Locked On Mariners - Daily Podcast On the Seattle Mariners - Jarred Kelenic's Knee, Roenis Elias' Arm, and Shed Long's Shin

Episode Date: March 19, 2021

The Mariners have suffered a couple different injuries over the course of the Spring. Jarred Kelenic was originally slated to be out for several weeks, but he's back ahead of schedule. How does he figure in the team's plans for left field in 2021? And what might Taylor Trammell have to say about those plans? Guest host Clive Braithwaite IV talks about this position battle, and also talks about the pitching staff, which is less one arm. Roenis Elias is in need of Tommy John surgery, and his season is finished. Who else are vying for spots in the M's revamped bullpen? Plus, with Shed Long Jr. not having been able to participate in Cactus League games thus far, what does that do for the situation at second base? Dylan Moore will be there to start the season, but what does his future hold? Also, why are so many statements in this episode description written as questions? Who is responsible for that? And what should his punishment be if we ever figure out who it was? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Welcome to Locked-on Mariners, part of the Locked-on Podcast Network, your team every day. Here's your host, filling in for D.C. Lundberg, Clive Braithwaite IV. Thank you very much, Joey Martin. D.C. has not been feeling like himself at all over the previous couple months, evidenced by his lacklust performances on the last few shows. I am his personal secretary, Clive Braithwaite IV, and I will be filling in for him today on Lockedon Mariners, part of the Lockton Podcast Network.

Please remember to download rate and subscribe to this program using whichever podcasting app you personally care to use. Ask your smart device to play Locktong Mariners, or any other program here on the Lockton Network. DC asked me to extend his apologies for letting his health situation get to the point that it prevented him from doing his job here on Lock Tom Mariners in an adequate fashion. He also wanted me to say that he appreciates all of you who have stuck with the show, and he hopes to be back on track very soon so he can bring you five shows a week during the regular season. The basis of this network is your team every day, not your team once a week or so, or whenever the host is not incapacitated.

With spring training beginning to wind down, and also with there having been so few shows in the preceding few weeks, it would be silly to recap the last. previous handful of games. So in lieu of that, I will be talking about some of the more important news items which have come out in Spring Camp, and also talk about some position battles. We'll begin in left field, where Jared Kellnick had been the front runner for the starting job prior to a knee injury incurred on March the 6th. He was diagnosed with a grade two adductor strain during that day's game, and was originally reported to have to miss a few weeks.

But his rehabilitation progressed swiftly, and a mere 11 days after injuring his knee, he was back on the field on March the 17th, getting in two plate appearances in that night's game versus the Los Angeles Angels. M's manager Scott Service said after the game, quote, he was excited to get back in the game. He was fired up, end quote. He went on to say, quote again, Jared always looks great in the battle. box. He's ready to go, so he's on every pitch. He hadn't played in 10 or 11 days, so it'll

take a while to get his timing back, but I thought he looked fine today, end quote. While that he's certainly good news for Kelnick, there is another man vying for the left field job who's had a rather impressive spring. No, it's not Henry Cotto trying to make a comeback attempt, it's none other than Taylor Tramel. As a side note, I have never before heard of Henry Cotto. D.C. wrote that into my script, so blame him if you didn't think it was funny. Back to Tramel. He was originally acquired at the trading deadline last year as part of the deal that sent Austin Nola and Dan Altaville to the Padres. Tramel is a former first round draft choice out of high school, and while he's done well in the lower levels in the minor. He's largely been viewed as a disappointment, not putting up the numbers that people expected

him to, and the Mariners are his third organization. While he did hit 277 in his lone season in advance day in 2018, his power production was rather lower than what it had been the previous year at the single A level. And in double A ball in 2019, splitting the season between the Cincinnati Reds and San Diego Padres chains, his average average fell to 234, and his 349 slugging percentage was also nothing to write home about. However, he's on-base percentage was 340. While his previous minor league numbers are more indicative of a player who stalls out in

AA or AAA, he's been impressive in Spring Camp, so maybe he's starting to put it all together. He is only 23 years old and won't be 24 until September. flip side, Jared Kearnick has progressed through the minor leagues rather impressively. He is also a former first round draft choice, having been selected by the Mets 6th overall in 2018 out of high school. He was the centerpiece of the package the M's got from the Mitz in the Edwin D.S. Robinson Comno trade. He has progressed through the minors rather quickly, hitting for a fairly high batting average,

a pretty good on-base percentage to go along with it, and impressive gap power. He did struggle a little bit at the AA level, but not alarmingly so, and put up the type of numbers that the Mariners' organization expected him to. Over his minor league career, he's played 173 games, and has slashed 293-66, 516. Kellnick is a little less than two years younger than Tremel, he will turn 22, and he will turn 22. in July. Both Baseball America and the MLB Pipeline rank him as the number four prospect in all of baseball, while MLB Pipeline has Tramel at number 100. Both men are left-handed hitters, so a platoon situation doesn't make much sense. There are a few others in competition

with Tramel and Kellnick for the left field job, but DC doesn't see any of them as long-term options. His favorite among the group is Braden Bishop, the organization's best defensive outfielder, but his bat-to-ball skills haven't developed as expected. D.C. originally thought he'd compare favorably to rich armor all, but he hasn't displayed that type of contact-hitting ability. D.C. still sees him as a valuable part of the team's future as a fourth outfielder, given his defensive prowess and speed. Jose Mamalajos is also in the mix in left field, but he is really a first baseman.

He can play the corner outfield spots, but not on an everyday basis. His versatility alone makes him a valuable player, but the man can flat out hit. He hit at every level in the minors, and is a four-time minor league all-star. In addition, he was the Washington Nationals minor league player of the year twice in back-to-back years, 2015 and 2016. He made the opening day roster last year after a very impressive summer training camp as a non-roster invitee, but was sent to the alternate training site after hitting 103. When he was recalled, he went on an absolute tear and just hit everything in sight, and finished the abbreviated campaign hitting 203, raising his average exactly 100 points.

The other player is Jake Fraley, who has had a pretty dismal spring. He has had two cups of coffee with the M's after being acquired in the Mike Zunino trade. Fraley hasn't developed at all as the Mariners had hoped. He was slated to make last year's club as a reserve outfielder, but even with the expanded rosters at the beginning of 2020, Fraley performed so poorly that he found himself beginning the season at the alternate training site. a long shot at best to break camp with the big league club this year as well. We'll talk about some of the other positions later in the show, including second base and

the bullpen, and also briefly look ahead to the future of the team beyond 2021. But at this time, I present today's trivia corner, which today is a baseball trivia question. all the men who have played Major League Baseball who were born on this date, March the 19th, who is the youngest. I'll give you a couple hints, he's still an active player, and almost assuredly going to be a Hall of Famer. I'll tell you who I'm talking about after I tell you about betonline.ag. Bet online is the fastest and easiest way to bet on all your sports action.

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Primo code locked on. The answer to the trivia question, the youngest Major League Baseball player who's celebrating a birthday today is none other than the great Clayton Kershaw, who was born on this date in in 1988 and Dallas, Texas. Happy birthday, Mr. Kershaw. Coming up, what's up with Rowanis Elise? I don't know, but I'll ask him when he gets home. Now back to Lockdown Mariners and your guest host Clive Braithwaite the 4th.

Thank you, Joey Martin. Ladies and gentlemen, get all the sports news you need in under 20 minutes with the Locktown Today podcast. Host Peter Buchowski updates you on the latest news in every May. major sport with the help of our local experts. Follow the Locktown Today podcast wherever you get podcasts. And for bowling and curling, DC will have you covered there, but not nearly as much now as was the case during the off-season, although he did very much enjoy the World Series of bowling, which concluded on Wednesday. Back to baseball and back to the Mariners. We are going to talk pitching in B-block, and we'll begin with some disappointing news. Rowanus Ilius will not be

part of the bullpen for the foreseeable future, as he is in need of Tommy John surgery, which is nothing to do with expensive underwear. Ilius was an on-roster invitee to spring training, after spending the previous season and a half with the Washington Nationals. This was the left-handers' 3 stint with the Mariners, having been signed as an amateur free agent on May the 3rd 2011, and making his Major League debut with the M's on April the 3rd 2014. He was subsequently in the M's rotation for two seasons, appearing in 51 games, all but two of them starts, and pitching respectively in the back of the rotation. He was then traded to the Boston Red Sox after the 2015 season, and spent most of the next

two seasons in AAA Port-Tucket. The Mariners reacquired him at the very beginning of the 2018 season, and was very effective out of the bullpen that year. He was dealt to the Washington Nationals at the deadline in 2019, after again pitching very well out of the Mariners' bullpen. His time in Washington was not very good, only four games for the Nats in 2019, and he did not pitch at the big league level at all in 2020. The M's had re-signed Elias to a minor league deal this past January, and invited him to spring training. He was definitely in line to be a part of the Mariners' revamped bullpen, but this injury

pretty much eliminated that possibility, and he will be out for the entire year. Quoth Scott's service, we are really disappointed to see him go down, and I know he is as well, But it creates opportunity for some other guys, and hopefully somebody takes it and runs with it." Service is referring to the fact that with Elias no longer in the mix, it opens the door for someone else to potentially make the team, assuming Elias would have if he were able to pitch. The Mariners have a number of non-roster invitees who have previously pitched in the majors,

in addition to some of the homegrown arms that are in camp. them, Joey Gerber and Aaron Fletcher both appeared at the big league level last season, although Fletcher was clearly not ready for the majors. Gerber pitched a lot better, but it's also worth pointing out that Elias is left-handed, as is Fletcher. Anthony Micevich is left-handed, but D.C. thinks he's assuant to make the opening day roster, and he pitched pretty well for the M's all last year, appearing in 21 games. The only other left-handed relievers in Camp are Ian McKinney and Brandon Williams and, both

of whom are destined for the minors this year. The Mariners reportedly offered Elias a two-year minor league contract, which would allow him to remain in the M's organization while he recovers. According to an article on MLB.com penned by Jesse Sanchez, quote, Elias can't go on the injured list or a crew service time because he's not on the 40-man roster. End quote. The bullpen was the Mariners' obvious weak point in 2020, and Jerry Dipoto signed a lot of arms to bolster the Relief Corps.

J.T. Shah Gaw is in camp as a on-raster invitee, having previously pitched in the majors with the Dodgers. Gerson-Bortistee is also in camp, having originally been acquired by the Mariners from the New York Mitz and the Edwin D.S. Robinson can no deal. But he's pitched poorly at the big league level in both Seattle and New York. Taylor Guillory is another non-roster invitee, and he has also pitched in the bigs with both Texas and Toronto. There are numerous others in camp, and the competition remains wide open, even with fewer

than two weeks to go before opening day on April the 1st. And this is not to mention those new faces who are on the 40-man roster, including Ken Giles, and Middleton, and Rule 5 draft pick will vest. As far as the rotation goes, the first three spots are pretty much set. Marco Gonzales, James Paxton, and Justice Sheffield will be your one, two and three starters respectively. Scott's service is going to utilize a six-man rotation this year, as he did last year. He is unsure if this unorthodox strategy will carry over into 2022.

and he may go back to the standard five-man rotation at that time, that remains to be seen. As far as this year goes, you say Kikuchi will be in the rotation, even though his major league career has been poor. D.C. has pretty much given up on him already, but the M's paid him a lot of money, so they're going to stick with him. There are four men in competition for the final two spots in the rotation, Justin Dunn, Nick Margaviches, Chris Flexen, and L.J. Newsom. All but Flexen started games for the M's last season, while Flexen spent the year in Korea. Have you got a question or comment for DC? If you do, send an email to Locton Mariners at gmail.com. I will read your message on the air, and DC will offer a reply. Questions and comments on any subject are welcome and encouraged, but please do me a favor

and don't ask about music. DC loves those types of questions, but I can't stand them since he has a tendency to ramble on forever about music. Also keep in mind that this is a family show, so please keep your messages appropriate. Coming up, with Shedlong Jr. on the shelf, who will take the reins at second base to start the season? Also, I'm not wearing any pants.

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Before we get into the final segment of the day, I'd once again like to say that I am Clive Braithwaite the 4th, D.C. Lundberg's personal secretary, and Mr. Lundberg asked me to host today's program since he is still far from himself. He does hope to get back in the swing of things soon, as opening day is fast approaching. He does apologize for dropping the ball so badly in regards to producing this show so infrequently. We've discussed the left field situation, and also the pitching staff. Most of the other positions are spoken for in terms of who is going to begin the year as that position stutter, but a few are slightly up in the air. Going into camp, it appeared as if Shedlong Jr. and Dillon Moore were going to be in competition

for the second-based job. However Long has not played at all, as he is recovering from a leg injury. He played last season through this injury, which might be in the same. may accounts for his down year. He appeared in 34 games overall, and did begin the season as the M's everyday second baseman, though he lost his starting job to more late in the season. He slashed Amir 171, 242, 291. However, in his 42 games stimmed at the big league level in 2019, he was impressive. He slashed 263, 33, 454. while hitting 12 doubles and 5 home runs in 152 at bats. He took a strangle hold of the second base job, and looked as if he was going to be the starter there for a while.

But to say that last year was rough would be an understatement. To make matters worse, his injury has disallowed him from seeing action in any Cactus League games, so Dylan Moore is more than likely going to be the opening day second baseman. Moore's batte a ball skills improved in 2020, and he showed that there's much more sting in his bat than many thought. In 117 at bat last year, he slashed 255, 358, 496. For much of the season, he was the team leader in OPS. He had injury problems of his own last year, including a wrist injury which affected his

hitting ability. Both players are versatile. Both can play second base and left field, while more also can play center field, right field, shortstop, first base, and third base. Long also plays a little third base, but has only played two innings worth of shortstop in his minor league career, accumulating only two total chances, one of them going for an error. The Mariners also have Donovan Walton and Sam Haggherty, who are good utility options.

Walton is regarded as an outstanding fielder at both second base and shortstop, though his arm plays better at second base. He's been learning third base this spring as well, and was a part of that impressive triple play a few weeks ago. Walton, whom DC liked to call Sunshine Superman, is never going to be much of an offensive threat, but his defense and versatility make him a valuable bench piece. Sam Haggerti, whom DC nicknamed Telegram Sam, is another versatile player, and he also can play the outfield.

Upon being recalled from the alternate training site last year, Haggerti started hot, but did eventually cool off a bit. He finished the year with a 260, 315, 400 slash line in 13 games. getting back to the situation at second base with Shed Long Jr. and Dylan Moore. If Long produces after coming back from his injury, and Moore is also hitting well, then you may see a platoon situation at second base. Long is a left-handed hitter, and Moore is a righty. In addition, both men may figure into the Mariners' plans at third base in 2022. Kyle Seeger is in the final year of his contract, and D.C. thinks it's highly unlikely that

the Mariners will retain him, and even thinks it's possible he may be dealt away at the All-Star break if he's having a good season. Assuming Seeger is not a part of the M's in 2022, more and long may both be starters at that time if they both have good 2021 seasons, with more at third and long at second, most likely. D.C. hopes this is the case. because it would save the Mariners from having to dip into the free agent market, which would leave more money to improve the pitching staff, as you can never have enough pitching. The other position that's up in the air is first base. Evan White was the first baseman last year, and while he did win a gold glove for his

outstanding defense, he often looked terrible at bat. If the minor leagues were in operation last year, he most assuredly would have been sent to Tacoma. That option is in place this year, and if he gets off to another slow start, don't be surprised to see him back in the minors. Thai France can play first base, and he can hit. The Mariners also have the aforementioned Jose Marmolyhos and Dylan Moore. First base is the primary position for Marmolejos, while Dylan Moore's primary position is second base, but again, he can pretty much play all over the diamond and even pitched an inning in 2019. That will wrap up this one. Next Wednesday will

be a cross over episode with Locked On A's, when DC will be joined by Jason Burke. DC hopes he'll be able to get at least one more show published before then, but he's unsure if he'll be able to. In the interim, please remember to download rate and subscribe to this show. Look for us on any podcasting app that springs to mind. Thank you for listening to today's program. I do hope you enjoyed it. Have a great weekend. This is Joey Martin for Locked-on Mariners,

part of the Locked-on Podcast Network.